Bartop Plans

[Razor]

Hello, im after some good bartop plans, as I have very little woodwork skills, so im getting someone else to help me with that side of things, ive spent days looking for plans, but cant find anything that I really want to build, im after a bartop preferably 2 player with a marquee, if poss.  I cant seem find many plans for bartops, if there arnt any more free ones, is there somewhere i can buy them from? cheers for the help.

[javeryh]

Something like this but with a different CP maybe?

http://extraordinaryarcade.com/arcademachines.html

I don't think the plans are readily available but it should be easy enough to approximate with the monitor you have - just design around it in the general shape you want...

[Razor]

Okay ill look into that, thanks for your help, this is exactly the type I want to build

[Razor]

I was gonna use a Pentium 3 750 mhz, 248 mb of ram, not sure what graphics cards would fit in it.  Assuming I could get a competent Gfx card for this, would this spec be enough to run things like streetfighter alpha 3?

[Pik4chu]

I was gonna use a Pentium 3 750 mhz, 248 mb of ram, not sure what graphics cards would fit in it.

[Razor]

Yes thats what im gonna use mate, any idea on a gfx card, im trying to buy bits at the mo

[Pik4chu]

Yes thats what im gonna use mate, any idea on a gfx card, im trying to buy bits at the mo

are you using a TV, pc monitor? arcade monitor? that will tell wha card you need.

[Razor]

Im just gonna use a monitor, but I dont know much about older graphics cards thats all.

[Pik4chu]

Im just gonna use a monitor, but I dont know much about older graphics cards thats all.

ok what kind of motherboard are you using? like post themodel number.
Or what are the expansion slots look like? does it have AGP? (like PCI but smaller slot) PCI?(smaller connecter than ISA and is usually white in color) ISA?(large black/brown slot connector.

it will likely have a PCI connector. in which case you could use any generic PCI video card from www.newegg.com  which is having site troubles atm or I would link you one.

[Razor]

Thats the thing, im not sure what to buy, I was looking at a spec as mentioned before, but not sure what mother board it would have.  I was just gonna buy bits off ebay, and was looking at using a Radeon 7000, or would a Geforce MX4400 64 mb do, assuming I had AGP connections?


Also while im here, I was gonna buy a set of joysticks, probablly the Ultimate ones, I think thier called.  It says something about 4/8 way, does this mean they have a switch or is there a lot of messing around to get them to use 8 way.  Thanks.

[captainpotato]

Thats the thing, im not sure what to buy, I was looking at a spec as mentioned before, but not sure what mother board it would have.  I was just gonna buy bits off ebay, and was looking at using a Radeon 7000, or would a Geforce MX4400 64 mb do, assuming I had AGP connections?

Either one - I've got a TNT2 M64 in my bartop, which is more than quick enough. Personally, I'd lean towards the MX440, as it's more flexible under alternative OSes (non-windows), IMO.

Also while im here, I was gonna buy a set of joysticks, probablly the Ultimate ones, I think thier called.  It says something about 4/8 way, does this mean they have a switch or is there a lot of messing around to get them to use 8 way.  Thanks.

Ultimarc, you mean If you want ease of 4/8-way switching, go for the T-Stick Plus. Otherwise you need to get under the CP to change it.

[Razor]

Okay thanks for your help, so im on the right lines with the graphics card, LOL yeah I did mean Ultimarc, as you can see im a proper noob  .  Right so T-Stick Plus it is then 

[Razor]

Ahh the card I was looking at is not a 4400, but will this do?

      
Nvidia GeFORCE MX4000 128MB Memory Graphic Card NR

[captainpotato]

Ahh the card I was looking at is not a 4400, but will this do?
      
Nvidia GeFORCE MX4000 128MB Memory Graphic Card NR

Easily. It's better than what I've got. Remember that 3d acceleration is not supported (or needed for anything that your processor can handle).

[Razor]

Okay cool, getting a better picture of things now. 

Just trying to piece it all together, learn and then when I get round to doing a nice upright, ill (hopefully) be a lot more clued up, cheers again.

[Razor]

Is there a UK supplier of the T-Stick Plus?

[Sinner]

Is there a UK supplier of the T-Stick Plus?

He's based out of the UK...

[Razor]

Ahh Okay, was wondering because I was gonna get my joystick, buttons, ipac etc from Ultimarc.

[Razor]

Okay so at the moment i have a Athlon XP motherboard, 1500xp processor, 256mb pc3200 ram, and the above graphics card :Nvidia GeFORCE MX4000 128MB Memory Graphic Card NR.

I know this exceeds what I would need it for, but I got it all quite cheap anyway so doesnt matter.   When I get the T-Stick, someone suggested using a Joystick hack, rather than an Ipac, I know roughly what an ipac does, but havent got a clue about usinga Joystick hack.  Which one would everyone recommend?

[brain21]

I have a bunch of bartop plans that I downloaded off of the net.  I can't find all of them, so I'll just put up here what a quick search of my files turns up:

http://home.comcast.net/~cpviewer/pics_bartop.htm - plan files are on the site, and the actual files are listed below.
barcade_pdf.zip
barcade_dwg.zip
pac1.jpg - image of the above plans completed
bartop_addon_cp.jpg - ditto this time with control panel

Happy Hour bartop:
http://www.skum.org/bartop/ - main page
http://www.skum.org/bartop/downloads.htm - download the plans here

Bartop Tron:

http://www.bishopzone.com/bishopzone/projects/tron.html - no plans, but some good pics.  You could alter the plans above to fit this form...

http://www.bishopzone.com/bishopzone/projects/tabletops/tabletops.html - same guy, but these are like the first links above

Digital Arcade:
http://www.digitalarcade.co.uk/Bartop_cabinets.htm - don't know if there are plans here or not.  Didn't dig deep enough.

http://www.users.on.net/~cerebus/index.htm - again, no plans, but pics.


I am planning on building one as well.  I am going to use the plans up at the top and modify them to fit a 17" PC monitor.  It will have a modded xbox inside, and the control panel will be an x-arcade 2 player.  I like the idea of a bartop w/ the control panel NOT attached.  Gives you more flexibility (& elbow room) I think.

Brain21

[Razor]

Thanks Brain, ive already checked out those links, but like you say, i think im gonna try and modify it around a monitor, i think.  Looking forward to getting all the bits together, and finally starting the project.

[captainpotato]

Okay so at the moment i have a Athlon XP motherboard, 1500xp processor, 256mb pc3200 ram, and the above graphics card :Nvidia GeFORCE MX4000 128MB Memory Graphic Card NR.

I know this exceeds what I would need it for, but I got it all quite cheap anyway so doesnt matter.   When I get the T-Stick, someone suggested using a Joystick hack, rather than an Ipac, I know roughly what an ipac does, but havent got a clue about usinga Joystick hack.  Which one would everyone recommend?

I'm using a Mini-PAC, which I'd strongly recommend for a bartop, as it's easy to use and fairly cheap. A joystick/keyboard hack isn't worth the effort, IMO.

[Razor]

Okay thanks, yeah minipac sounds better, ill check one out, especially as space is at a premium. 

Thanks for everyones help so far, sorry for the barrage of questions, just want this project to be a goodun

[Razor]

Ive encountered a slight problem, the cheap motherboard I bought only supports PC2100 ram.  Is this type of memory gonna be enough for what I need ?

[Razor]

In actual fact, ive just found out that PC3200 is backwards compatible, so that should still be cool.

[captainpotato]

Ive encountered a slight problem, the cheap motherboard I bought only supports PC2100 ram.  Is this type of memory gonna be enough for what I need ?

I've got PC-100 SD-RAM in my box.

Assuming your motherboard handles the memory fine, it will be more than quick enough.

Stop worrying - assuming you have at least 128mb RAM, then your processor will be the limiting factor, not the other stuff you've asked about

[Razor]

Okay Okay, your right I was worrying too much lol, ordering my minipac and joysticks etc today - horrayy!